Girls’ Basketball Roundup: Franklin, Hillsborough claim CJ4 semifinals wins, but Metuchen, Bernards see their seasons come to an end

Two Central Jersey Sports Radio-area girls basketball teams are on to the same sectional final in the NJSIAA state tournament, but two others saw their seasons come to an end Tuesday night.

Third-seed Hillsborough will play at top-seed Franklin Thursday night for the Central Jersey Group 4 championship, after both teams won Tuesday.

But Metuchen saw it’s season come to and end down the Shore, while Bernards lost on its home floor to defending North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 champion Madison.

Scroll through for recaps, audio, and links to separate stories, followed by an updated upcoming schedule with dates and times.

Central Jersey Group 4

Despite missing Alexa Gaspar, who was out sick, Hillsborough improved to 21-6 and moved on to its third straight title game with a 60-49 win at second-seed East Brunswick. Isabella Ruh logged her 18th double-double of the season in 27 games, scoring 17 points and adding 15 rebounds. The Raiders were North 2, Group 4 champions in 2024, winning their first-ever sectional title, then followed it up by winning Central Jersey Group 4 last year – and the state Group 4 title two games later.

Click here to read our game story, and hear postgame comments from Hillsborough head coach Courtney Tierney.

Meanwhile, in Franklin, the top-seeded Warriors were 66-34 winners over fifth-seed Jackson Twp., getting a career-high 33 points from junior Aleah Sunkins. A strong third quarter helped Franklin pull away. The final will be Thursday instead of Friday – the designated day for Group 2 and 4 sectional finals – since Franklin is hosting District 5 NJSIAA wrestling that night

Click here to read our game story, and hear postgame comments from Franklin head coach Jimmy Kreie.

• (1) Franklin def. (5) Jackson Twp., 66-34
• (3) Hillsborough def. (2) East Brunswick, 60-49

Central Jersey Group 2

The 13th-seed, Metuchen, ran into the buzzsaw that is state power Manasquan Tuesday night, losing to the top-seed 53-18. The Bulldogs got shutout 16-0 in the first quarter, too big a hole to climb back from, and trailed 30-4 at the half. Victoria Zaniecki had a double-double in the losing effort – 12 points and ten rebounds – as their season comes to a close at 15-14.

• (1) Manasquan def, (13) Metuchen, 53-18
• (2) Rumson-Fair Haven def. (3) Johnson, 45-38

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

Second-seed Bernards saw its season come to an end with a 51-40 loss to four-time defending champion and third-seed Madison. The Mountaineers couldn’t find their shot from the get-go, going the first ten minutes without a field goal, and trailed 11-2 at one point. They were able to climb back in the third quarter and cut the deficit to 35-34, but Madison hit some big threes – and their foul shots – and gradually built a lead they would never relinquish. Senior Aletha Reynolds scored 14 points and had ten rebounds to record a double-double in her final high school game – she’s committed to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. – while Maddie Frame added 11; each of them had a pair of treys in the game.

• (1) Caldwell def. (4) Voorhees, 67-44
• (3) Madison def. (2) Bernards, 51-40

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

Central Jersey Group 4 Final (Girls)

• (3) Hillsborough (21-6) at (4) Franklin (21-8), 6 pm

Non-Public North A Semifinals (Boys)

• (4) DePaul at (1) Morris Catholic, 7 pm
• (6) Pingry at (2) Immaculate Heart, 5:30 pm

Non-Public South A Semifinals (Boys)

• (4) St. Thomas Aquinas at (1) Red Bank Catholic, 5:30 pm
• (3) Paul VI at (2) St. John Vianney, 5:30 pm

Non-Public North B Semifinals (Boys)

• (4) Villa Walsh at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s, 5 pm
• (3) Hudson Catholic at (2) Saddle River Day

Non-Public South B Semifinals (Boys)

• (5) Stuart Day at (1) Rutgers Prep, 5 pm
• (3) Wildwood Catholic at (2) Gloucester Catholic, 5 pm